Friday, September 5, 2014

“Hon,
Hon …” I heard my husband calling me in a soft voice. It was 4:47 A.M on Thursday, August 28th,
2014 when hubby woke from a sound sleep with sharp pains in his chest, arms and
jaw.We didn’t know what to do at first,
because he thought this was a result of an acid reflux problem called GERD
(Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) that the doctor’s diagnosed two years ago
when he was in the hospital.

“Do
you want to go to the hospital?” I asked.“I’m not sure.” He
said.Then he asked me to get him
aspirin and the antacid, thinking it was indigestion.

When the pains didn’t subside we felt we needed to get
him to the hospital.Within thirty
minutes he was already in the Emergency Room and on a heart monitor … he had a
heart attack. (Read daily updates here.)

You are welcome to leave comments
or prayer requests below.All are
private. I would love to hear from you and how Daily Favor has worked in your
life.Contact me by leaving a message in
the box at the bottom of this week’s post.

The day was long and full of all kinds of tests for my husband, but his were
mainly physical.My test was one of
faith.I was doing my best to process
all that was happening.

Pacing the floor I put my hands in my jacket pocket and pulled out the
contents just to keep my mind off of the waiting.There was a crumpled piece of white paper
that was blank; I figured it was in there for scrap if I needed to write
something down quickly.Teacher’s tend
to have all sorts of things in their pockets, so I didn’t think anything of
it. Something told me to look at it once more.

Turning it over I read this title: “God hears the prayers of A United Church.”It was part of a torn devotional that I had forgotten
about, but apparently didn’t want to throw it away.

After receiving the news and hearing that he needed to be stable before he
could have surgery, I did my best to stay alert and strong emotionally.So many things were swirling through my mind,
but among them wasn’t every verse I knew on healing.

Don’t think that’s abnormal, because it’s not.When someone is overtired and facing a life or
death situation, you don’t think normally. That’s why it’s so vital to have
scripture so much a part of your being, that it cannot be separated from your
bone marrow.

Instead of speaking healing passages the Holy Spirit brought to my memory three
verses that claimed life and that’s what I prayed.

I didn’t want to leave his side that night, but knew I needed to take care
of some things at home and try to get some sleep.In the wee hours of the night I posted the Urgent
Message for all my journey people asking them to be the voice of the Church in
lifting up my husband before the Lord in prayer. You did not let us down, but
rallied to the challenge of the week.

I Shall Live

It was before six A.M. that I arrived at the hospital on Friday morning.God had shown me favor in the parking space
that was under a lamppost and close to the ER door.

The time had come for hubby to have his surgery.Two cardiac surgery male nurses came to get
him and escorted us down to the operating room.They deposited me in the waiting room down the hall from where it would
all take place.

Each of us trying not to cry, we held on to one another not knowing if it would
be our last. Neither one wanting to let go, hubby made this claim right after he
kissed me.

“My heart beats to the rhythm of
life.

I shall live and not die… I love you.”

Turning the corner he was wheeled out of
sight.He didn’t know that was my prayer
just a few hours before I returned to the hospital.

You’re Not Alone

The surgeon was clear that he wanted my husband on that surgical table at seven
sharp the next morning, and he was.As for me, I was
all alone and fear tried to enter my mind.I was seated directly across from the round white clock that was on the
wall, rocking back and forth like a baby.

My hands were folded tight in the praying position and I was squeezing
them so hard I could feel my pulse … Lord steady his pulse.

Even though it was early I decided to call my friend and see if she could
come and sit with me.When I tried to
use my phone it quit.Right away I knew
it was the devil and I was being tested whether or not I would trust the Lord
to work this out for His glory.

A few gentlemen came in and sat down. They were both scheduled for out-patient
care. I noticed one with his cell phone and decided to ask him if he could look
at mine to see what was wrong with it.He took it apart and did all he knew to do, but the phone still didn’t work.

Walking back to my seat I prayed that the Lord would send my friend.Finally, I was able to get a hold of her. Within
the hour she showed up with open arms stretched out as if declaring, “You’re not
alone.”

Singleness of Heart

This story is far from over and has more to be revealed along our
journey.Even though we were
experiencing something traumatic, God showed me that it was a challenge for all
that have been on the Daily Favor journey this year.

He expressed to me that some had passed the test and some haven’t.When the notice went out last week, I wasn’t
thinking “blog”, but God was thinking “test.”

“And they daily continued
with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat
their meat with gladness and singleness
of heart, and the Lord added to the church daily.”

Literally, thousands of you responded as the church and went into action
with your faith.You believed God would
heal, bless, restore and favor my husband in your prayer requests.Many of you sent prayers, best wishes and
blessings acknowledging that someone in the Body of Christ was hurting and this
was unacceptable.

You posted the Urgent message on the media, in your church, sent emails and
put us on the prayer chains. God heard your prayers. He saw your hearts were united as servants
of the Lord and He will honor your outward expression of love as He loves.

Unfortunately, some saw the request and didn’t share the message, nor did
they pray.They ignored the message that
the Holy Spirit put before their eyes as a test. It had little to do with us,
but the test was mainly for their good. For them, this part of their journey
may be a little longer.

By this point we should have learned that this is the outward part that God
is looking at to see if we are active in our faith walk.We are past the self-examining phase and need
to be focused on the part that others see, that being singleness of heart as
Christians.

This Week’s Challenge: Reach Out

How long has it been since you visited those who have taught you spiritually?It doesn’t matter where they live for you to
reach out to them and see if they are in need of anything.

Perhaps they are going through something that no one knows about, but God has
directed you through this lesson to give them a call or drop them a line.Ask the Holy Spirit what you can do for
them.He may have you reach out in faith
through prayer, send them a financial gift, stop in and mow their lawn or offer
to run errands.There is always
something you can do, so ask them. Maybe being there is all that is needed for emotional support.

Reach out and let others know that with God and you, rest assured, they are
not alone. Let God hear us as ONE VOICE. PRAY